Nellie Wyman Higgins

December 24, 1922 - April 26, 2013

Obituary

Nellie was born to Alex Kovalchuk and Pearl Bulkun and lived in Portland all her life. She was raised by Pearl and stepfather John Losko, the man she knew as father. She had a brother Alex and an adored younger sister Helen. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1940. During the next year she met and fell in love with the handsome man from Idaho, Robert Sandy Wyman. They married in 1942 and with this marriage came the bonus of a daughter Sharon. Sandy and Nellie raised Sandra and Sean in Portland. Through the years Jim Nall and Terry Hart were the sons-in-law that gave her unconditional love and the joy of grandchildren. ...

Nellie was born to Alex Kovalchuk and Pearl Bulkun and lived in Portland all her life. She was raised by Pearl and stepfather John Losko, the man she knew as father. She had a brother Alex and an adored younger sister Helen. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1940. During the next year she met and fell in love with the handsome man from Idaho, Robert Sandy Wyman. They married in 1942 and with this marriage came the bonus of a daughter Sharon. Sandy and Nellie raised Sandra and Sean in Portland. Through the years Jim Nall and Terry Hart were the sons-in-law that gave her unconditional love and the joy of grandchildren. Debbie, Christy, Tammy, Lori, and Julie were her Idaho grandbabies. Dawn, Kenneth, Cary and Chauncey were her Portland grandbabies. This gang continued to add joy to her life with nineteen great-grandchildren. Sandy passed away in 1974 when Sean was fifteen and Nellie became a devoted single mom to him.At a church spaghetti dinner in 1982 she met Jerry Higgins, it was a mutual love for them and they were married in 1983. Again she was a lucky lady to once again have the bonus of one more daughter, Katie and seven more sons, Kevin, Jerry Jr., Barney, Tom, Dan, Bart and Bill. Eleven more great-grandchildren were now a part of their lives.Nellie was a very hard worker and made a professional career as a waitress. She was truly the dream waitress and people were known to wait 45 minutes or more for her service. She worked at the Silk Hat and for many years at the Republic Café. Her career did not end until she was 67 years old.Nellie loved to gad about with Jerry; nothing was more fun than shopping for dinner or visiting friends. She was a great down-to-earth cook and sharing her meals was her way of showing love. Her hot garlic dill pickles will be remembered by many. Nellie and Jerry tended a garden; she crocheted for family and in later years she became very excited watching the Portland Trailblazers. A visit to a casino now and then gave her pleasure. She had an ear for language and could speak in at least three languages. She was a caregiver to her first great granddaughter Olivia and spent many joyful hours rocking her baby girl.Nellie was sweet, gentle, kind, tough, stubborn, hardworking, fearful and brave. She has left us to join the welcoming party of her brother, her sister, her brother-in-law and two husbands plus many friends in Heaven. She will be missed by sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.A better daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend could not be found. She is so deserving of the rewards to come as she lived her life for others.A graveside service will be held in Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 11am. Public visitation will be at 10am prior to the graveside service in Skyline Funeral Home. Following the graveside ceremony, all are welcome to attend a reception in the home of Sandra and Terry Hart.